Smart Work Completion

15 Jul

Written By Russell Futcher

High-Performance Management and Teams

Timeboxing

How to really speed through work.

Timeboxing - is a simple and highly effective time management technique.

It works like this:

Let’s say I’m doing my email.

My goal is to do as many as I can.
I allocate 20 minutes to do it.
I look at the time and work out when 20 minutes will be up and sometimes I set an alarm.
I then get as many emails done as is possible in the time allowed, ignoring any distractions.
When the time is up, I move on to my next job.

Let’s say I’m writing a Business Case (something I hate).

My goal is to make a start, do an outline.
I allocate just 30 minutes and do as much as I can in that time.
I do an outline and maybe one or two paragraphs, but at least I have made a start.
Tomorrow, I will allocate an hour.

So, Timeboxing is simply fixing a set period of time to work on a task or group of tasks. Instead of working on a task until it’s done, you commit to working on the task for a specific amount of time instead.

Several project management approaches use Timeboxing.

Timeboxing is also perfect for meetings such as Project reviews or where you want to get through as much work as possible, in the time available.

Timeboxing focusses your attention on the task at hand because mentally you know you only have a fixed amount of time to do it in.

And remember, Work contracts to fit in with the time we give it, or, work expands to fill the time available.

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Timeboxing

Russell Futcher

Russell Futcher lives in Melbourne Australia as an IT/Business Change Management Consultant. He is a recognised High-Performance Management and Teams specialist, an author, researcher and blogger. His 40-year career to date has been focussed on Change Management where he has gained a hard-earned reputation for someone who takes on complex jobs and gets things done. Frank and direct, highly regarded by peers and customers alike, highly motivational and passionate about fixing problems, improving performance and developing management and team talent.

Russell has held senior management positions across the Insurance, Banking, Health, Transport, Retail, Superannuation, and Technology sectors in some of Australia’s largest corporations. Qualified in Business and Executive Coaching, Management Development and Training and Education, he is also the developer of the ‘Best Practice IT Standards’ and the ‘High-Performance Management and Teams’ management model, author of five management books and three courses.

An experienced electronic and print media presenter who spends much of his spare time doing research into Management and Team behavioural dynamics. His favourite subject he says is - people, stating that “Everyone is fascinating, and I just like everyone".

http://russellfutcher.com

Smart Work Completion

High-Performance Management and Teams

Timeboxing

It works like this:

Timeboxing focusses your attention on the task at hand because mentally you know you only have a fixed amount of time to do it in.

And remember, Work contracts to fit in with the time we give it, or, work expands to fill the time available.

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